Warnings for Qbrexza
Included as part of the "PRECAUTIONS" Section
Precautions for Qbrexza
New Or Worsening Urinary Retention
New or worsening signs and symptoms of urinary retention (e.g., difficulty passing urine, distended bladder) have occurred in patients taking Qbrexza with or without a history of documented urinary retention. Instruct patients to discontinue use immediately and consult a physician should any of these signs or symptoms develop.
Qbrexza should be used with caution in patients with prostatic hypertrophy or bladder-neck obstruction.
Control Of Body Temperature
In the presence of high ambient temperature, heat illness (hyperpyrexia and heat stroke due to decreased sweating) can occur with the use of anticholinergic drugs such as Qbrexza. Advise patients using Qbrexza to watch for generalized lack of sweating when in hot or very warm environmental temperatures and to avoid use if not sweating under these conditions.
Operating Machinery Or An Automobile
Transient blurred vision may occur with use of Qbrexza. If blurred vision occurs, the patient should discontinue use until symptoms resolve. Patients should be warned not to engage in activities that require clear vision such as operating a motor vehicle or other machinery, or performing hazardous work until the symptoms have resolved.
Risk Of Accidental Exposure
Cases of accidental exposure resulting in mydriasis, anisocoria, and blurred vision have been reported in postmarketing surveillance of Qbrexza. The exposures occurred when children accessed Qbrexza wipes discarded in trash or when patients touched the periocular area after using Qbrexza. In most cases, the mydriasis, anisocoria, and blurred vision were temporary and resolved within one week following exposure. The risk of accidental exposure was increased in these cases by not adhering to recommendations for the appropriate use of Qbrexza.
Strict adherence to the recommended hand washing after use and disposal instructions is of the utmost importance to prevent accidental exposure. [see DOSAGE AND ADMINISTRATION].
Patient Counseling Information
Advise the patient to read the FDA-approved patient labeling (PATIENT INFORMATION).
New Or Worsening Urinary Retention
Instruct patients to be alert for signs and symptoms of urinary retention (e.g., difficulty passing urine, distended bladder). Instruct patients to discontinue use and consult a physician immediately should any of these signs or symptoms develop.
Control Of Body Temperature (Risk Of Overheating Or Heat Illness)
In the presence of high ambient temperature, heat illness due to decreased sweating can occur with the use of anticholinergic drugs such as Qbrexza. Advise patients using Qbrexza to watch for generalized lack of sweating when in hot or very warm environmental temperatures and to avoid use if not sweating under these conditions.
Operating Machinery Or An Automobile
Transient blurred vision may occur with Qbrexza. If this occurs, instruct patients to contact their healthcare provider, discontinue use of Qbrexza and avoid operating a motor vehicle or other machinery, or performing hazardous work until symptoms resolve.
Instructions For Administering Qbrexza
It is important for patients to understand how to correctly apply Qbrexza (see Patient Information).
- Instruct patients to use one cloth to apply Qbrexza to both axillae by wiping the cloth across one underarm, ONE TIME.
- Using the same cloth, apply the medication to the other underarm, ONE TIME.
- After applying Qbrexza, discard the cloth in the household trash out of reach of children and others.
- Wash your hands with soap and water right away after you apply Qbrexza and have thrown away the cloth.
- Inform patients to avoid touching the periocular area. The Qbrexza that is still on your hands can cause you to have temporary pupil dilation and blurred vision if you touch your eyes.
- Remind patients not to apply Qbrexza to other body areas or to broken skin. Instruct patients to avoid using Qbrexza with occlusive dressings.
- Qbrexza is flammable; avoid use near heat or flame.
Nonclinical Toxicology
Carcinogenesis, Mutagenesis, Impairment Of Fertility
Glycopyrronium tosylate was not carcinogenic when topically applied to rats daily for up to 24 months in solution at concentrations of 1%, 2%, and 4% w/w.
When glycopyrrolate was administered via oral gavage to mice for up to 24 months at dosages of 2.5, 7, and 20 mg/kg/day in both genders, no significant changes in tumor incidence were observed when compared to control.
When glycopyrrolate was administered via oral gavage to rats for up to 24 months at dosages of 5, 15, and 40 mg/kg/day in both genders, no significant changes in tumor incidence were observed when compared to control.
Glycopyrrolate was negative in a battery of genetic toxicology studies that included a bacterial reverse mutation (Ames) assay, a mouse lymphoma assay conducted with L5178Y/TK+/-cells, and an in vivo micronucleus assay with mice. Glycopyrronium tosylate was negative in an Ames assay.
Glycopyrrolate was assessed for effects on fertility or general reproductive function in rats. Rats of both genders received glycopyrrolate at dosages up to 100 mg/kg/day via oral gavage. No treatment-related effects on fertility or reproductive parameters were observed in either gender.
Use In Specific Populations
Pregnancy
Risk Summary
There are no available data on Qbrexza use in pregnant women to inform a drug-associated risk for adverse developmental outcomes. In pregnant rats, daily oral administration of glycopyrrolate (glycopyrronium bromide) during organogenesis did not result in an increased incidence of gross external or visceral defects [see Data]. When glycopyrrolate was administered intravenously to pregnant rabbits during organogenesis, no adverse effects on embryo-fetal development were seen. The available data do not support relevant comparisons of systemic glycopyrronium exposures achieved in the animal studies to exposures observed in humans after topical use of Qbrexza.
The estimated background risks of major birth defects and miscarriage for the indicated population are unknown. In the U.S. general population, the estimated background risk of major birth defects and miscarriage in clinically recognized pregnancies is 2-4% and 15-20%, respectively.
Data
Animal Data
Glycopyrrolate was orally administered to pregnant rats at dosages of 50, 200, and 400 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. Glycopyrrolate had no effect on maternal survival, but significantly reduced mean maternal body weight gain over the period of dosing at all dosages evaluated. Mean fetal weight was significantly reduced in the 200 and 400 mg/kg/day dose groups. There were two litters with all resorbed fetuses in the 400 mg/kg/day dose group. There were no effects of treatment on the incidence of gross external or visceral defects. Minor treatment-related skeletal effects included reduced ossification of various bones in the 200 and 400 mg/kg/day dose groups; these skeletal effects were likely secondary to maternal toxicity.
Glycopyrrolate was intravenously administered to pregnant rabbits at dosages of 0.1, 0.5, and 1.0 mg/kg/day during the period of organogenesis. Glycopyrrolate did not affect maternal survival under the conditions of this study. Mean maternal body weight gain and mean food consumption over the period of dosing were lower than the corresponding control value in the 0.5 and 1.0 mg/kg/day treatment groups. There were no effects of treatment on fetal parameters, including fetal survival, mean fetal weight, and the incidence of external, visceral, or skeletal defects.
Female rats that were pregnant or nursing were orally dosed with glycopyrrolate daily at dosages of 0, 50, 200, or 400 mg/kg/day, beginning on day 7 of gestation, and continuing until day 20 of lactation. Mean body weight of pups in all treatment groups was reduced compared to the control group during the period of nursing, but eventually recovered to be comparable to the control group, post-weaning. No other notable delivery or litter parameters were affected by treatment in any group, including no effects on mean duration of gestation or mean numbers of live pups per litter. No treatment-related effects on survival or adverse clinical signs were observed in pups. There were no effects of maternal treatment on behavior, learning, memory, or reproductive function of pups.
Lactation
Risk Summary
There are no data on the presence of glycopyrrolate or its metabolites in human milk, the effects on the breastfed infant, or the effects on milk production. The developmental and health benefits of breastfeeding should be considered along with the mother’s clinical need for Qbrexza and any potential adverse effects on the breastfed infant from Qbrexza or from the underlying maternal condition.
Pediatric Use
The safety, effectiveness and pharmacokinetics of Qbrexza have been established in pediatric patients age 9 years and older for topical treatment of primary axillary hyperhidrosis [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY]. Use of Qbrexza in this age group is supported by evidence from two multicenter, randomized, double-blind, parallel-group, vehicle-controlled 4-week trials which included 34 pediatric subjects 9 years and older [see ADVERSE REACTIONS and Clinical Studies]. The safety and effectiveness of Qbrexza have not been established in pediatric patients under 9 years of age.
Geriatric Use
Clinical trials of Qbrexza did not include sufficient numbers of subjects age 65 years and older to determine whether they respond differently from younger subjects.
Renal Impairment
The elimination of glycopyrronium is severely impaired in patients with renal failure [see CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY].